Fitness first - problem cancelling

suzieq

I wasn't really sure where to post this, hope it's the right place!

My husband took out a membership with FF last January, mainly to buff up for our wedding in June , which he did, and only went about 5 times after that :doh:

In mid-December, we wrote a letter to our local branch cancelling the membership, and cancelled the DD in January, but we have now had a letter and a phone call saying the letter was never received and we have to pay a months fee - can they do this??!! :mad: If we refuse, what can they do?

custardy

and you have proof the letter was delivered?

suzieq

custardy wrote: »

and you have proof the letter was delivered?

Nope, it just didn't occur to me at the time to send the letter recorded.

Mum-2-Be

Unless you have proof of delivery with the letter nothing I'm afraid.

They can restart the DD from their end but the good news is if they do you can call the bank on the day it leaves and request a DDI (Direct Debit Indemnity) saying this left without your authorisation and the funds will be refunded within 48 hours

Send them a recorded delivery letter next time hun

suzieq

Thanks Mum2Be, I will definitely send anything like this recorded in future, lesson learned! Any idea what they can do if we refuse to pay?

Doozergirl

suzieq wrote: »

Thanks Mum2Be, I will definitely send anything like this recorded in future, lesson learned! Any idea what they can do if we refuse to pay?

Well yes. They can take you to court for the money. As far as they're concerned, he breaching the contract he had with them.

You will have to come to an agreement with them. Whether they capitulate or you do...

suzieq

Doozergirl wrote: »

Well yes. They can take you to court for the money. As far as they're concerned, he breaching the contract he had with them.

You will have to come to an agreement with them. Whether they capitulate or you do...

OK, thanks. And is it likely that they would for £34? Sounds like it may well be worth just paying it and being done with it.... Bloody annoying though. :mad:

surfboard2

This happened to me a couple of years ago.

However, i did send the letter by recorded delivery (and they still denied that it was ever received.)

I did write to the CEO of Fitness First. I found his e-mail on a facebook group at the time (i believe.) I explained the situation, and his secretary e-mailed me back apologising and saying that there must have been a "misunderstanding" and they cancelled my membership.

pinkshoes

The letter NEVER gets received! I've never known so many unreceived letters with gym cancellations! I'm quite sure it's how they make a large chunk of their profit!

I would make sure that you re-cancel, and this time send it recorded, and also hand deliver a copy too, just to be sure...

There_Goes_Trouble

pinkshoes wrote: »

The letter NEVER gets received! I've never known so many unreceived letters with gym cancellations! I'm quite sure it's how they make a large chunk of their profit!

I would make sure that you re-cancel, and this time send it recorded, and also hand deliver a copy too, just to be sure...

I would take two copies of the letter and get the receptionist to mark it as 'received' and sign and date it as well, to prove that the hand delivery was made. Leave one copy with them and keep the other for your records.

themull1

This happened to my husband, we instantly did an indemnity and got the payment back, fitness first phoned up and tried to get arsey, so i just told them we had written the letter, cancelled the dd, and if they tried again to claim there would be trouble. They never got in touch again.